Method of and apparatus for distant regulation of cinematographic objectives



May 15, 1923. 1,454,850

L. GAUMONT ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTANT REGULATION OF CINEMATOGRAPHlC OBJECTIVES Filed March 29 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1.

Fig.2,

May 15, 1923. 1,454,850

L. GAUMONT ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTANT REGULATION OF CINEMA'IOGRAPHIC OBJECTIVES Filed March 29, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 15, 1923. 1,454,350

L. GAUMONT ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTANT REGULATION OF CINEMATOGRAPHIC OBJECTIVES Filed March 29 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 llwerdons ,Zyfliarmqya;

May 15, 1923. 1,454,850 L. GAUMONT ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTANT REGULATION OF CINEMATOGRAPHIC OBJECTIVES Filed March 29 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 15, 1923.

L. GAUMONT ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTANT REGULATION OF CINEMATOGRAPHIC OBJECTIVES Filed March 2 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 't atented Mag 15, 1923.

uNiTEo SAWS PATENT OFFICE.

25'1 AHCE, ASSIGNORS, BY .ail lf', ROCHESTER, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION NEW YORK.

METHOD 01 AND APPARATUS FOR DISTANT REGULATION F CINEMATOGRAIHIC OBJECTIVES.

Application filed March 29, 1920. Serial No. 869,637.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LrioN GAUMONT and LEOPOLI) Berni DEoAUx, citizens of the Republic of France, and residents of Paris,

5 Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Method of and Apparatus for Distant Regulation of Cinematographic Objectives, of which the following is a specification.

In his Patent No, 1,233,381, granted April 24, 1917, the applicant Gaumont described an optical apparatus for cinematographic projection which permits of the carrying out of the trichrome or three colour process.

This apparatus comprises substantially three objectives one of which, the middle one, was fixed and the two others were movable and could be operated separately by suitable regulating devices in two perpendicular planes so as to be either raised or lowered or traversed towards the right or towards the left. This regulation was indispensable in order to allow of the images projected by the said movable objectives being made to coincide and to be perfectly superposed on the image projected by the fixed middle objective.

Furthermore, in his Patent No. 1,223,772, granted July 17, 1917, the applicant Gau mont has described a complementary regulating means intended to permit of the ad vancing and retiring movements of the ex treme movable objectives.

The movements of the movable objectives in two perpendicular planes vertical and horizontal, or along their axis, were obtained by means of milled knobs. Now, as the inventors have found, it is very difficult to thus effect a satisfactory tocussing of the three objectives with perfect superposition of the images, because the operator who carries out the regulation is very far away from the screen on which the cinematographic projection takes place.

It is in order to remedy this disadvantage that the applicants have devised the method of regulation which constitutes the subject matter of this application, which consists essentially in controlling positively from a distance the movements of the movable objectives of the apparatus for trichrome cinematographic projection by providing an operator located near the screen. This control from a distance may be effected in any convenient manner by electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic means, etc.

One of the means of carrying out this method consists in providing near the lantern, a driving apparatus comprising, for example, on the onehand a shaft rotated continuously by a suitable source of power and driving a series of plates, or toothed wheels, grouped in pairs so as to rotate at the same speed and in opposite directions and. on the other hand, a certain number of mechanical. or electro-magnetic, clutches equal in number to that of the movements which it is desired to obtain for the objectives and permitting the auxiliary operator, situated at the post which is placed near the screen, to mechanically connect to one or other plate or toothed wheel of each pair, rotating in opposite directions, the devices such as Cardan shafts for controlling from a distance, intended to impart to the different objectives the movements which it is desired to cause them to execute.

The auxiliary operator situated near the screen will have at his disposal one or more handles which allow of the throwing into action of such mechanical, or electro-magnetic, clutch which he may require to produce from a distance the control of any one of the screws or screw-threaded rods mounted on the projecting apparatus and producing the movements of the movable objectives.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example, will enable the manner in which the invention is carried out to be properly understood.

Figure 1 is a diagram of this control from a distance by a plate mechanism driven by a motor.

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a constructional form of the apparatus intended to impart the necessary movements to the objectives by means of electro-magnetic clutches.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a manipulator.

Figures 3 to 11 show apparatus for carrying out the method and of these figures,

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the apparatus situated near the screen.

Figure 4 is a view from underneath of Figure 3, the cover of the casing containing the mechanism being removed.

Figure 5 is a section on the line Z-Z of Fi ure 3.

igure 6 shows in front view the handles for operating the electro-ma-gnetic clutches (the walls of the box containing the handles being partially removed in order to show the inside thereof).

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams of electric connections hereinafter referred to.

Figure 9 is a plan, partiall in section through one of the movable o ectives, of the optical system comprising the three o bjectives, two of which may be moved by the controls at a distance.

Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section on the line Y-Y of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a modification of Figure 10 in the case where the advancing and retiring movements of the movable objectives along their horizontal axis are likewise obtained, by controls from a distance.

The motor a (Figure 1) which rotates continuously operates, by means of any kind of driving mechanism, a shaft 2 on which are mounted gears, such as 3, attached to said shaft and consequently continuously rotating with it.

One of the gears, such as 3, will drive, either by friction or by gearing, two gears 4 and 5 Which driven round by the gear 3 at opposite sides relatively to the shaft 2 will rotate in opposite directions.

At 6 and 7 are provided electro-magnetic or mechanical clutches which will permit of connecting mechanically, either to the gear 4, or to the gear 5, by means of a device not shown, the shaft 8, intended to impart to the objective 9 the movements which it is desired to cause it to execute.

It follows from this arrangement that if the shaft 2 carries several gears, such as 3, with plates and clutches, corresponding appliances, such as that described above may be provided which will be able to be utilized in order to impart to the two movable objectives the different movements which it may be necemary to give to them.

The clutches ma as before stated be opperated mechanically or electrically. It is evident that one and the same shaft, such as 8, must only be capable of being thrown into action in one direction.

Figure 2 illustrates means for practically carrying out the system.

A is an electric motor which drives. by means of an endless screw gear 1, a vertical shaft 2 upon which is keyed a disc 3.

A second ear 4, independent of the shaft 2, but paral el with the gear 3, is driven in the opposite direction to the gear 3 but at the same speed by a system of pinions 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

A friction drum 10 is rigidly connected to a socket 11 which slides on a shaft 12 which operates, by means of any mechanical gearing, such as shown for example in Figure 13, the objective 14 which it is desired to operate. The socket 11 carries at 15 and 16 the cores of two electro-magnets 18 and 19.

With this arrangement, if the electromagnet 18, for example, be excited, its core moves 15 downwards and thus brings the drum 10 into contact with the gear 3 which is then rotated in a certain direction by friction.

The socket 11 which is, as has been explained above, free to slide longitudinally on the shaft 12, drives said shaft round in its rotation by means of a key arrangement convenient y arranged and it follows that a movement in a certain direction is given to the objective 14. This movement will cease from the instant the electro-magnet .18 ceases to be excited and will take place in the opposite direction if the electro-magnet 19 be energized.

Briefly, the control of the movements in one direction or the other of the objective 14 will be effected by exciting one of the two electro-magnets 18 or 19.

In order to prevent the objective 14 from undergoing exaggerated mechanical efforts when it has arrived at the end of its travel, use may be made of switches at the end of the movement, operated by any suitable means, so arranged that the objective can never move further than the greatest distance which may be needed.

The arrangement above described may be reproduced as many times as is needed in order to impart to all the objectives which it is desired to move all the movements which it is necessary to make them undergo. For this purpose, several drums such as 10 may be employed so that they come into contact with the gears 3 and 4 at different points on the periphery of said gears.

In order to supply current to the electromagnets 18 and 19 it is obvious that any suitable switches may be used but it is more convenient to use the Sarrangement of switches which utilize the reflex movements of the auxiliary operator placed near the screen.

Thus, for example, if it is necessary to make the objective 14 rise, it may be convenient that the auxiliary operator shall himself make an upward movement of the operating device. 7 In like manner to lower the objective 14 it may be convenient that the operator shall make a downward movement of the controlling apparatus. The lateral movements may be similarly executed.

vIt 'willbe understood that the objectives will thenhave to be mounted in such a way as to be able to move in a horizontal plane. For this purpose they may, for example, be fixed to a slide rigidly connected to a rack driven from a source of movement by a shaft similar to the shaft 8 of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1.

In this case a convenient arrangement of manipulator intended to operate the objective 14 downwards and from right to left, my be the following rod 20 (see Figure 2) is pivoted at O at right angles to a vertical plane in such a way that it may describe a cone the apex of which would be the point 0. Four springs 21, 22, 23 and 24 arranged on a circle having the same centre as said cone, may be put into contact with the rod 20 in the order of their function by inclining said rod in the suitable direction.

If, for example, the mechanism is so arranged that the rod when brought into contact with the spring 22, operates the electromagnet 19 (Figure 2) and that when it is brought into contact with the spring 24, the electro-magnet 18 is operated, the desired effect will have been attained, namely that by raising the rod 20, the objective will be caused to rise and by lowering it the same objective will be lowered and each of the movements of said rod to the right or to the left will correspond to a movement in the same direction of the objective 14.

If there are several objectives to be operated it is obvious that several of these similar arrangements may be employed.

The arrangement described above is simply given by way of example. The clutches in particular, which in this case are magnetic clutches, may be mechanical and operated from a distance by any suitable mechanical or electrical means. The smooth friction drives may likewise be replaced by toothed gears suitably arranged and with the usual precautions. Also the change of the direction of rotation of the gear 4 with respect to the gear 3 is made, in the example described, by means of a train of gears but any other equivalent arrangement may be employed.

In the improved method of carrying out the invention which forms the subject matter of the present application as shown in Figures 3 to 11, the diagrammatic working of which has been described above with ref erence to Figures 1 and 2. the electric motor which rotates continuously drives by means of a helicoidal screw A a Wheel 1 which is keyed on the end of a shaft 2.

The shaft 2 carries two friction gears or discs or plates 3 4 rotating at equal speeds in opposite directions. On the other hand a drum 10 mounted so as to be able to slide along a shaft 12, which it drives when rotated, comes into contact with one or other of the friction discs 3 so as to be driven by friction either in one direction or in the opposite direction.

The reversal of the direction of movement of the gear or disc 4 with respect to the gear or disc 3 may be obtained in the following manner :-The gear 3 keyed on the shaft 2 is provided with a toothed por-- tion 9 which gears with loose pinions 8 (see Figure which gear with a bevel wheel 5 rigidly connected to the friction gear or disc 4 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 2. It will be understood that the gear having the toothed portion 9 being driven in the same direction as the shaft 2, will drive at an equal speed but in the oppo site direction the gear having the toothed portion 5 owing to the reversal of movement effected by the small bevel pinions 8 The movement of the drum 10 between the gears or discs 3 and 4: is obtained by means of solenoids or electro-magnets 18 and 19 the cores and 16 of which are rigidly connected to the socket 11 on which is fixed the drum 10 and which is mounted on the shaft 12 so as to be able to slide thereon while yet driving said shaft when rotated, for exam-- ple, either by means of pins rigidly connected to the shaft 12 and entering slots 31 in the sleeve, or by a long key, or by a square drive. The end of theshaft 12 carries a vertical helicoidal screw 33 (see Figures 3 and 4) which gears with a helicoidal wheel 34 fixed on a shaft 35 provided with universal joints 36 and which transmits its movement to the corresponding movable objective O or 0 (see Figure 10) the mounting of which may be effected as described in Patent No. 1,233,772 dated 17th July 1917.

As will be seen in Figure 9, the end of the shaft 35 carries a bevel pinion 38 gearing with another pinion 39 mounted by means of a long key on a screw-threaded shaft or rod D, similar to the screw D in Figures 2 and 3 of Patent No. 1,223,381, dated 24th April, 1917, the end of which may be pro vided with a milled knob D The turning of the shaft 35 in one direction or the other produces the screwing or the unscrewing of the screw-threaded rod D which determines the horizontal movement, to the left or the ri ht, of the rear part of the objective 0 or The mounting of these objectives is precisely the same as that which is described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of Patent No. 1,233,772 dated 17th July 1917. The sole difference consists in the fact that the two screw-threaded rods D are each operated from a distance by a shaft 35 with universal joints 36 and, if necessary, by hand by the aid of milled knobs D.

As can be seen in Figure 10 each of' the objectives 0 and O is controlled from a distance by a shaft with universal joints for producing the horizontal movement of the ob'ectives to the right or left.

ith regard to the pivotal movements of the objectives in a vertical direction that is to say the raising or lowering of each of the objectives and 0 they are obtained by means of screws or screw-threaded rods T identical with the screws t in Figures 2 and 3 of Patent No. 1,233,772, and each is operated by a shaft 35 with a universal joint 36.

The return movements of the objectives are obtained as has been stated in the prior patent by means of springs.

In the constructional form illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 the advancing or retiring movement of each objective is obtained by means of knots B (identical with the knobs B shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of Patent No. 1.233,772), but it is obvious that these knobs B may be replaced by an operating mechanism at a distance identical with that which acts on the screw-threaded shafts or rods D and T: it sufiices for this purpose to act by an angle piece on each of the two shafts t as illustrated in Figure 11 where it can be seen that the said shafts t each carry a pinion 39 gearing with a pinion 38 driven by one of the shafts 35.

In this case it is necessary to have six shafts with universal joints operating the two screws D, the two screws T, and the two cam carrying shafts t respectively. It will suilice then, as will be understood, to arrange around the shaft 2 six pairs of solenoids 18, 19 with the drum 10 instead of four as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The auxiliary operator who is near the screen and who has to make the images projected by the objectives 0 and O coincide must have at his disposal two handles 0 which permit him to cause the current to pass into any one of the electro-magnets 18, 19, four for example in the case of Figures 3 to 6, around the shaft 2. Each handle controls the movements of one of the two objectives O or O.

The diagram of the electric connections which permits these movements to be efi'ected is represented in Figures 7 and 8. In said diagram, the letter 2 indicates supports of a general nature for the operating parts.

Each handle 0 is capable of moving between four contacts 21, 22, 23, 24 (or six contacts according as there are four universal joint shafts (see Figure 10) or six universal joint shafts (see Figure 11) to be controlled.

Two opposite contacts 21, 23 for example, are connected by wires 40. 41 respectively to the windings of the solenoids 18, 19 then to a source of electricity, such as an accumulator battery 42, from which a common wire 43 returns to the handle 0.

In the circuit of the wires 40, 41 are It will be seen that when the piece 46 opens one of the contacts 44 or 45, the current is cut off in the corresponding electromagnet 18 or 19 and consequently the shaft 12 which drives the shaft 35 is thrown out of operation and the said shaft 35 stops. In other words this arrangement of switches 44 and 45 regulates the maximum amplitude of the movements in one direction or the other, both for the screw-threaded rods T (raisin of the objectives 0 and O) and the rods (movement to the right or left of the objectives O and O) and, finally in the case where the shafts t are also operated at a distance, the amplitude of the advancing or retiring movement of said objectives.

It is obvious that the present application is not limited to the methods of constructing the objectives which have just'been described and, in particular, the control of the movements of the movable objectives may be effected by any other means than by the universal joint shafts as, for example, by the aid of flexible shafts and the transmission of movement to these universal joint shafts, flexible shafts, etc. may likewise be obtained in any suitable manner.

Finally it is obvious that the direct control of the movement of the objectives by knobs may be combined with the control from a distance in such a way that in case of defective working of the latter, the regulation by means of milled knobs can always be obtained.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In combination, a plurality of objectives, one of said objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon the image projected by another objective, and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axis, said objective adjusting means comprising a motor having direct and reverse driving parts, a clutch part adapted to make connection with one or the other of said driving parts, means for moving said clutch part to make connection with said driving parts, and a controller actuating said clutch moving means, said controller being distant from the objectives and near the screen.

2. In combination. a plurality of objectives, one of sid objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon the image projected by another objective, and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axis, said objective adjusting means comprising a motor having direct and reverse driving parts, a clutch part adapted to make connection with one or the other of said driving parts, means for moving said clutch part to make connection with said driving parts, a controller actuating said clutch moving means, said controller being dist-ant from the objectives and near the screen, and manual means at the objectives for effecting the same movement of said objectives as is eitected by said distant controller.

3. In combination, a plurality of objectives, one of said objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon the image projected by another objective, and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axis, said objective adjusting means comprising a motor having direct and reverse driving parts, a clutch adapted to make connection with one or the other of said driving parts, an electro-magnetic device for moving said clutch part in one direction to make connection with one of said driving parts, and an electro-magnetic device for moving said clutch part in a reverse direction to make connection with said other driving part, and a controller comprising a switch, terminals and circuits to each of said electro-magnetic devices, said controller being distant from the objectives and near the screen.

4. In combination, a plurality of objectives, one of said. objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon the image projected by another objective. and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axis, said objective adjusting means comprising a motor having direct and reverse driving parts, a clutch adapted to make connection with one or the other of. said driving parts, an electro-magnetic device for moving said clutch part in one direction to make connection with one of said driving parts, and an electro-magnetic device for moving said clutch part in a reverse direction to make connection with said other driving part, a controller comprising a switch, terminals and c rcuits to each of said electro-magnetic devices, said controller being distant from the objectives and near the screen, and circuitbreaking means adapted to break the circuit from said controller upon apredetermined movement of said objective, whereby said clutch connection is broken and said motor ceases to drive the parts of said objective moving means beyond said clutch.

5. In combination, a plurality of objectives, one of said objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon the image projected by another objective, and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axis, said objective adjusting means comprising a motor having direct and reverse driving parts, a clutch adapted to make connection with one or the other of said driving parts, an electro-n'iagnetic device for moving said clutch part in one direction to make connection with one of said driving-parts, an electromagnetic device for moving said clutch part in a reverse direction to make connection with said other driving part, a controller comprising a switch, terminals and circuits to each of said electro-magnetic-devices, said controller being distant from the objectives and near the screen, and circuitbreaking means actuated by said objective moving means, adapted tobreak the circuit from said controller upon a predetermined movement of said objective, whereby said clutch connection is broken and said motor ceases to drive the parts of said objective moving means beyond said clutch.

6. In combination, a plurality of objectives, one of said objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon the image projected by another objective, and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axis, said objective adjusting meanscomprising a motor, a clutch between said motor and moving means, and a controller adapted to control the connection and disconnection of the parts of said clutch.

7. In combination, a plurality of objectives, one of said objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superposc, at the screen. upon the image projected by another objective, and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axis, said objective adjusting means comprising a motor, a clutch between said motor andmoving means. and a controller adapted to control the connection and disconnection of the parts oi said clutch, Said controller being disrant from the objectives and near the screen.

8. In combination, a plurality of objec tives, one of said objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon the image projected by another objective, and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axis, said objective adjusting means comprising a motor having direct and reverse driving parts, a clutch between said objective moving means and each of said driving parts of the motor, whereby said objective moving means may bemoved at will in opposite directions, and a controller adapted to control the connection and disconnection of the parts of said clutch.

9.- In combination, a plurality of ob ectives, one of said objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon the image projected by another 0b ective,

. and means for adjusting said mova 1e objective around said axis, said objective adjusting'means comprising a motor havlng direct and reverse driving parts, a clutch between said objective moving means and each of said driving parts of the motor, whereby said objective moving means may be moved at will in opposite directions, and a controller adapted to control the connection and disconnection of the parts of said clutch, said controller being distant from the objectives and near the screen.

10. In combination, a plurality of ob ectives, one of said objectives being movable around an axis, whereby the image pro-- jected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon the image projected by another objective, and means for adjusting s'aid movable objective around said axis, said objective adjusting means comprising a motor having direct and reverse driving parts, a clutch adapted to make connection with one or the other of said driving parts, an electro-magnetic device for moving said clutch part in one direction to make connection with one of said driving parts, and an eletro-magnetic device for moving said clutch part in a reverse direction to make connection with said other driving part, and a controller comprising a switch, terminals and circuits to each of said electro-magnetic devices, said controller being'distant from the objectives and near the screen, said controller comprising a handle having an electric terminal thereon, and terminals adapted to make contact with said handle terminal to establish circuits leading to said electromagnetic devices.

11. In combination, a plurality of objectives, one of said objectives being movable upon two axes substantially at right angles to one another, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register 01' superpose, at the screen, upon an image projected by another objective,

1,454,auo

and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axes, said means comprising a controller distant from the objec tives, and near the screen, and means actuated by said controller for moving said movable objective around each axis, said objective moving means comprising a motor, immediate means for moving said objective around each axis, and a clutch between said motor and each of said immediate moving means, said controller being adapted to control the connection and disconnection of said clutches.

12. In combination, a plurality of objectives, one of said objectives being movable upon two axes substantially at right angles to one another, whereby the'image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or super ose, at the screen, upon an image projected y another ob'ective, and means for adjusting said movable objective around said axes, said objective moving means comprising a motor having direct and reverse driving parts, immediate means for moving said objective around each axis, and a clutch part in conjunctioriiwith each immediate moving means adapted to couple said immediate moving means with said driving parts, and means for moving said clutch parts to make the connections with said driving parts, said controller actuating said clutch moving means.

13. In combination, a plurality of objectives, one of said objectives being movable upon two axes substantially at right angles to one another, whereby the image projected through said movable objective may be made to register or superpose, at the screen, upon an image pro'ected by another objective, and means for a justing said movable objective around said axes, said objective movin means comprising a motor having direct and reverse driving arts, immediate means for moving said ob ective around each axis, a clutch part in conjunction with each immediate moving means adapted to couple said immediate moving means with said driving parts, an electro-magnetic device for moving each of said clutch parts in one direction to make connection with one of said driving parts, and an electro-magnetic device for movin each of said clutch parts in a reverse t irection to make connection with said other driving part, said controller com rising switch terminals and circuits to eac of said electro-magnetic devices.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

LEON GAUMONT. LEOPOLD RENE DECAUX. 

